this is my contribution to FungiFriday by ewkaw
i have heard this old forest is a great place for finding fungi but this is my first time here. join me while i explore
Boletus pinophilus pine bolete
as the name suggests this classy bolete likes sandy pine forests and that is just where i found it. it is similar to Boletus edulis but far less common so i let it be. it was probably infested with insects anyway so no point in disturbing an uncommon one just to find it was too old. better to let it spread its spores and maybe one day they will be plentiful
Lactarius torminosus wooly milkcap or bearded milkcap is quite handsome with it's pink shaggy appearance. many claim it is edible after proper cooking but since it is toxic when eaten raw i take a photo and contently continue looking for better options.
Leccinum versipelle orange birch bolete is another of those
'edible if properly prepared' species that i would probably gather if there were a lack of better alternatives.
when i first learned about edible fungi years ago these boletes were more highly favored. i have harvested them many times with no problems. they both look impressive so i am happy to get a few photos and move on.
Kuehneromyces mutabilis sheathed woodtuft is one i am always happy to find because it both delicious and grows in large clusters. usually it is two-toned, somewhat like a fried egg but during dry spells it has a uniform cinnamon-brown color. it is still easily enough identified by the stem or stipe. a dark ring separates the shaggy brown lower part from the smooth white upper part. i refrain from picking these also as they look rather old and i am confident there are better choices available.
now here's one i don't know.
\lovely color and very interesting how the cracks in the cap reveal the unusually fibrous flesh underneath.
Cortinarius brunneus presumably this is a dark brown webcap, which is common here. they can be much darker with the white ring at the edge of the cap more distinct. but there is a lot of variation in this and other webcaps. not edible but the cracked skin of the cap looks cool, almost like a smile and i am happy to see iy.
Cortinarius violaceus violet webcap i believe but not 100% sure. nice stipe and though it's old it still has a very attractive appearance. none of these cortinarius are edible. i didn't put the bullet shell there for effect. this is how i found it.
this might be a Boletus edulis but it could also be a Tylopilus felleus bitter bolete or bitter tylopilus. more recently they have been reclassified and are no longer considered a species of bolete. whatever it is, it is too old to pick so i also leave this one alone. at this point you might be wondering if i am putting anything in my basket.
of course i am.
